Merging support device, merging support system, merging support method, and computer-readable medium

Abstract

A merging support device includes a memory and a hardware processor coupled to the memory. The hardware processor is configured to: execute control of the first vehicle corresponding to behavior when a second vehicle merges into a first lane, based on a vehicle speed and a vehicle position of a second vehicle traveling in a second lane that merges into a first lane in which a first vehicle is traveling; and notify a driver of the first vehicle about information on a control content of the first vehicle by the hardware processor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A merging support device comprising:
 a memory; and 
 a hardware processor coupled to the memory, wherein the hardware processor is configured to: 
 execute control of a first vehicle, the control corresponding to behavior of the first vehicle when a second vehicle merges into a first lane, based on a vehicle speed and a vehicle position of the second vehicle traveling in a second lane that merges into a first lane in which the first vehicle is traveling; 
 notify a driver of the first vehicle about information on a control content of the first vehicle by the hardware processor; and 
 display, on a display device mounted in the first vehicle, a path traveled by the second vehicle until the second vehicle merges into the first lane. 
 
     
     
       2. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein, the hardware processor is configured to make notification of the information on the control content of the first vehicle, before the control of the first vehicle corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane is initiated. 
     
     
       3. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to give notification of the information on the control content of the first vehicle, after the control of the first vehicle corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane is initiated. 
     
     
       4. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to give notification of information indicating that the control of the first vehicle has been interrupted, in a case where the control of the first vehicle is interrupted after the control of the first vehicle corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane is initiated. 
     
     
       5. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to give notification of information indicating that an operation by the driver of the first vehicle has intervened in a case where the operation intervenes after the control of the first vehicle corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane is initiated. 
     
     
       6. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to give notification that an operation by the driver of the first vehicle is necessary in a case where it is determined that the operation is necessary after the control of the first vehicle is initiated. 
     
     
       7. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to give notification of a position of the second vehicle after the second vehicle has merged into the first lane. 
     
     
       8. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to give notification of a speed difference between the first vehicle and the second vehicle after the second vehicle has merged into the first lane. 
     
     
       9. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to cause a direction indicator of the first vehicle to flash as the control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane. 
     
     
       10. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to turn on a brake lamp of the first vehicle as the control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane. 
     
     
       11. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to activate a horn of the first vehicle as the control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane. 
     
     
       12. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to perform a lane change of the first vehicle as the control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane. 
     
     
       13. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to change a vehicle speed of the first vehicle as the control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to the behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane. 
     
     
       14. The merging support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to detect a speed and a position of the second vehicle, based on vehicle information transmitted using wireless communication from the second vehicle. 
     
     
       15. A merging support system comprising:
 the merging support device according to  claim 1 ; and 
 a center server that collects information on the vehicle speed and the vehicle position transmitted from the second vehicle and transmits the information to the first vehicle. 
 
     
     
       16. A merging support method comprising:
 detecting, by a hardware processor, a vehicle speed and a vehicle position of a second vehicle traveling in a second lane that merges into a first lane in which a first vehicle is traveling; 
 executing, by the hardware processor, control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane, based on the vehicle speed and the vehicle position of the second vehicle; 
 notifying, by the hardware processor, a driver of the first vehicle about information on a control content of the first vehicle; and 
 displaying, by the hardware processor, on a display device mounted in the first vehicle, a path traveled by the second vehicle until the second vehicle merges into the first lane. 
 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which an executable program is recorded, the program, when executed by a computer including a hardware processor, performs operations including:
 detecting a vehicle speed and a vehicle position of a second vehicle traveling in a second lane that merges into a first lane in which a first vehicle is traveling; 
 executing control of the first vehicle, the control corresponding to behavior of the first vehicle when the second vehicle merges into the first lane, based on the vehicle speed and the vehicle position of the second vehicle; 
 notifying a driver of the first vehicle about information on a control content of the first vehicle; and 
 displaying, on a display device mounted in the first vehicle, a path traveled by the second vehicle until the second vehicle merges into the first lane.